"Sokolov covers his material deeply, offering not glib generalities but very specific insights and explanations. Great Games, marvelous analysis."

– Dennis Monokroussos, Chess Today

"I recommend this book to everyone who, coming out of the opening more or less ok, doesn't know how to proceed."

– Martin Rieger, FreeChess

"This structured approach is quite instructive as often players choose their opening repertoire according to quite haphazard criteria, randomly picking up lines without giving serious consideration to how the resulting middle games would suite them (..) Invaluable tools for any player."

– Michael Adams

"Terrific instructional content and great games."

– John Watson, The Week In Chess

"A pioneering effort from Ivan Sokolov that will benefit players of all levels, including masters."

– David Vigorito, ChessCafe

"An extraordinarily instructive book and indispensable instruction material for d4-players."

– Max Euwe Center, Amsterdam

"The author skilfully unearths the main ideas and pivotal moments in structures that continuously recur. I like his verbal notes which tend to be very clear and, indeed, instructive."

– Jonathan Rowson, 3-Times British Champion Grandmaster

"The lucid and informative explanations convey a large amount of genuine Grandmasterly wisdom. This is easily one of the best middlegame books of recent times."

– Sean Marsh, CHESS Magazine

"Using 45 model games, which includes a nice balance of analysis and prose, Sokolov explains the pros and cons of each structure. A great book."

– John Donaldson, International master, International Master

"A major achievement by Sokolov. Where opening books stop, this book continues."

– Johan Hut, Gooi en Eemlander

"Sokolov, who writes clearly and directly, shows the kind of tactical and strategic play appropriate to a wide range of middlegame pawn positions."

– The Judges of the ECF Book of the Year Award

"I recommend it to anyone interested in Nimzo-Indian and Queen's Gambit pawn structures - which should be pretty much everyone interested in chess, of course. The book contains fantastic, personal and sincere views of chess and game analysis."

– ChessVibes

"Sokolov's appreciation of the nuances of pawn play provides much useful material for aspiring club players, since a structured approach helps resolve many dilemmas which recur regularly in practical play."

– Bernard Cafferty, British Chess Magazine